The Mayors Council for Translink was caught off guard by BC's Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom calling it quits. Vice chair and Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender says with a new minister pending there are issues where it concerns Translink. "There are some that are time sensitive the moving forward plan, the number one highway, … [Read more...]
Mayors are still missing a key document in the new RCMP contract
June 11, 2012 by
Mayors are still missing a key document vital to understanding the RCMP contract. Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie says the ‘Companion Document’ is like a guide to the contract as a whole. “The companion document will be used to interpret the contract that we are being asked to sign. We have not seen this companion document, so it is … [Read more...]
Mayors holding off on signing the new RCMP contract will meet this week
June 11, 2012 by
Mayors in Metro Vancouver communities who haven’t signed the new RCMP contract are meeting this week to look at their policing options. Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore says the mayors want to present a united front on some kind of regional police force concept. “Well we are looking to get together to talk about what the future of … [Read more...]
Commissioner says mayors can’t abandon property tax plan
June 5, 2012 by
Translink's Commissioner says Metro Vancouver mayors don't have the legal right to retract support for using property taxes to pay for transit expansions. In April, the mayors withdrew support for using property taxes, by passing a resolution at one of their council meetings. But Translink Commissioner Martin Crilly says they can't do that. "In … [Read more...]
Canada’s Mayors want sustainable funding for infrastructure
May 31, 2012 by
The leaders of the country's major cities have met in Saskatoon to talk about ways to do this. As well as press Ottawa to keep the cash flowing so cities can stay competitive. Surrey's Dianne Watts says mayors need to co-ordinate on ways to keep up investment in roads, water and transit, "Whether it's trade, whether it's the change in regulation … [Read more...]
Some Mayors are going to ignore a deadline to ratify the RCMP contract
May 23, 2012 by
Don't expect Burnaby to ratify the new RCMP contract by the end of month deadline, and it looks like they aren't going to be alone in doing so. Mayor Derek Corrigan says the city is still examining its options as they have concerns over costs and control over policing under the deal. Corrigan didn't seem to be phased much by the … [Read more...]
BC mayors call for discussions with provincial and federal governments
May 19, 2012 by
BC mayors want to increase the lines of communication between their municipalities and the other two levels of government. 86 mayors from across the province want to have a round table chat with the Premier, as well as a round table on infrastructure with the provincial and federal governments. Surrey mayor Dianne Watts says, "Those conversations … [Read more...]
Legislative crack down on Translink fare cheats welcomed by Mayors council
May 7, 2012 by
The vice chair of the mayors council on regional transportation is hoping a crack down on fare evasion will get transit expansion back on track. Langley city Mayor Peter Fassbender says transit expansion south of the Fraser has been paused as Translink battles with a $ 30-million shortfall. He says "My view of that is it is not a … [Read more...]
Lower Mainland mayors meet to discuss RCMP pay hikes
April 21, 2012 by
Lower Mainland mayors met Friday, one day removed from a province-wide conference call, to talk again about RCMP pay hikes, and the costs. Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender says the wage hikes "threw sand in the gears" for some mayors who want clarification. When asked if any city is seriously thinking about not signing the new 20 … [Read more...]
More time for mayors to consider RCMP deal
April 19, 2012 by
BC mayors now have more time to decide whether to sign the province's new 20-year deal with the RCMP. Officials from the Solicitor-General's office say municipalities now have until the end of May, not April, to sign off. The extension comes in the wake of mayors claiming they were surprised by a wage increase for mounties included in the … [Read more...]
